2019 Von Hovel Scharzhofberger Riesling Grosses Gewachs

Region: Mosel, Germany

Grape: Riesling

Culinary Suggestions: Sushi/sashimi or lightly dressed shellfish

Vineyard Practice: Sustainable, Organic

About

Max von Kunow owns 21ha in sweet spots of the Saar Valley, the coolest part of the Mosel region. Von H.vel is a historic estate that started when these wines were favoured by Napoleon, back in the very early 1800’s. The cellar itself is around 1000yo and used to belong to the Monastery of St. Maximin. Max has organic sites that are mostly all steep, mostly all slate, and he also has a large proportion of mature vines. Since he converted the 21ha estate to organic and sustainable 'Fair’n Green' practises Max says that the wines he is making have less tropical pineapple and lychee characteristics, and more herbal tea and mineral notes, with better phenolic ripeness at lower alcohol levels. In the cellar, he places more emphasis than his father before him, non-botrytised fruit for dry and Kabinett wines, and more crushing of skins and also some skin-contact to coax out more extract from the berries. All ferments are fermented with wild yeasts where possible, and he uses a lot of the traditional 1000lt Mosel barrels. - Importer Note

Tasting Notes

Very cool aromas of dripping leaves and fresh herbs, then a sleek yet very compact palate that shows a ton of minerality through the long, tight finish. Excellent aging potential. Better after 2021.

94 points - jamessuckling.com September 2020